The Magic Newswire - Magic Week in Review - Magic Newscast - This Week in Magic

RICKY JAY LIKES THE HAND HE’S BEEN DEALT

the editor — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 05:10:01 +0000

A nice profile of one of the master’s of modern card manipulation appeared in the LA Times earlier today under the above title. In the piece, Jay discusses his return to the stage with a reprise of “Ricky Jay and His 52 Assistants.

“The ultimate is the two of us sitting here,” he says. “I want to come as close as I can to one-on-one, impromptu experience. It’s just flat-out better.” As a performer, Jay treats his audience with an almost anachronistic degree of respect.

“You know this is going to sound silly, but I think it is a fairly noble profession to bring wonderment and some pleasure, I really do,” he says. “Would you prefer to see a great show of mystery or go to a bad doctor? Which does more to serve us?”

PIXAR’S PRESTO PRODUCED ON ITUNES

the editor — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:55:56 +0000

The short fil from Pixar which preceeds the new blockbuster Wall-e is now available on iTunes. CLICK HERE to get more info from iTunes. Here’s the preview of Presto that we posted some time ago in case you haven’t seen the complete film:

RED CARPET FOOTAGE :: WOMEN IN BOXES

the editor — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 15:54:25 +0000

AMERICA’S HAD MORE MAGIC

the editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 16:05:36 +0000

Kevin James (AGT 2007):

BRITAIN’S GOT CRAZY MAGIC

the editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 14:23:42 +0000

DR. GORE:

THE DEANS OF MAGIC:

BRIAN BRUSHWOOD NY SHOW

the editor — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:47:13 +0000

Brian opened for the live Diggnation show in New York, and we have it here for those who missed it!

PART 1 :: This week watch Brian play with fire and nails in ways you would never believe!

PART 2 :: Watch Brian unveil the world premiere of Mr. Happy Pants and reveal the supernatural in your cell phone!

SHOULD YOU BELIEVE?

the editor — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:49:53 +0000

From the LVRJ: Cirque du Soleil announced this morning that the debut of “Criss Angel — Believe” will be pushed back two weeks. Ticketed previews that were to begin on Sept. 1 now will begin Sept. 12. The private party to mark the “official” debut has been pushed from Sept. 12 to Oct. 9. Spokeswoman Anita Nelving says technical delays made the cast about five weeks late moving into the custom theater at the Luxor from an off-Strip warehouse.

From the LA Times: This is the latest problem for a show that has been generating its share of controversy, mostly centered around the behavior of star Criss Angel.

GENDER BENDING DAVID BLAINE SPECIAL?

the editor — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 15:28:56 +0000

It appears that we are starting to hear some rumblings about David Blaine’s upcoming magic special which is in production at the moment. According to Dan Gross of the Philadelphia Daily News, “Magician David Blaine, wearing a wig, unleashed some tricks on unsuspecting women outside the Continental (2nd & Market) the other night. Blaine is touring the country shooting something to end at the Grand Canyon, a crew member told a fellow outdoor diner.” Blaine was spotted in West Virginia at a local eatery also wearing a wig. While in the neighborhood, he met up with Grateful Dead front man Bob Weir, performed some magic, and went for a ride in his “Grateful Sedan,” then vanished.

HOUDINI’S GHOST TRAPPED IN BASEMENT

the editor — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 14:31:56 +0000

“Harry Houdini escaped every straitjacket and pair of handcuffs put on him, but he hasn’t been able to find the keys to free his ghost trapped in the basement of the Washington Mutual bank building at Sunset and Vine,” begins a recently updated article from the LA Daily News reporting of the fate of the Magicians Hall of Fame. The facility has been ordered closed since late 2004 when a Los Angeles Department of Water and Power transformer blew in an underground vault, contaminating the former NBC Radio building and Home Savings bank with carcinogenic polychlorinated biphenyls, or PCBs.

CRISS ANGEL = I DREAM OF JEANIE

the editor — Sun, 29 Jun 2008 13:19:15 +0000

Las Vegas Review Journal reporter Norm quotes Penn Jillette commenting on his children and on Criss Angel.

On Criss Angel:
“What I like most about Criss Angel,” said Jillette, “is that cross he wears around his neck is big enough to actually staple a Jew to it.”

Handler asked: Is he really a magician?

Jillette responded: “He’s ‘I Dream of Jeanie.’ He does camera tricks.”

On Moxie:
Before Moxie’s appearance, “I believe every woman on that panel hated me,” he told Handler. “Then I had a child, and we brought Moxie in to do some cheesy magic trick, and all of a sudden the women of ‘The View’ love me.”

Jillette on Chelsea Lately:

Jillette on The View: